Manuel Ramos, a police officer from Fullerton, California, has been charged with second degree murder for allegedly beating a mentally-ill homeless person to death last year. His co-worker, Officer Jay Cicinelli, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force. This video from a surveillance camera shows Kelly Thomas, the victim, pleading for his life while the officers beat him on the street.

We all have different perspectives of the world. But not much of it really matters. This is one of those things it really comes down to in the real world to show what sort of person you really are. Will you rationalize brutality or will something inside you scream-out at the injustice?

At 7/14/2012 9:32:23 AM, royalpaladin wrote:Cops should receive extra punishment for crimes like this, but instead they receive little punishment.

Why should they be treated differently than an average person?

#UnbanTheMadman

"Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory of lighted streets on quiet nights..."

At 7/14/2012 6:33:38 PM, FREEDO wrote:It doesn't make sense to punish police more. They're apart of the same conception that punishment is actually effective.

Royal's logic rarely follows through.

Except for the first point- which doesn't justify more punishment on the police men- her logic is actually pretty sound.

The same could be said of many positions in the community. Merely because they are trusted, they should be punished more severely?

Cops aren't just trusted; they're also authorized with power by the law. If a policeman pulls you over, it is illegal to ignore the order. If a cop flashes a badge and demands that you stop, you must stop. If you suspect that the cop may have ill intent, you are not legally allowed to escape until he demonstrates full intent to harm you.

At 7/14/2012 6:33:38 PM, FREEDO wrote:It doesn't make sense to punish police more. They're apart of the same conception that punishment is actually effective.

Royal's logic rarely follows through.

Except for the first point- which doesn't justify more punishment on the police men- her logic is actually pretty sound.

The same could be said of many positions in the community. Merely because they are trusted, they should be punished more severely?

Cops aren't just trusted; they're also authorized with power by the law. If a policeman pulls you over, it is illegal to ignore the order. If a cop flashes a badge and demands that you stop, you must stop. If you suspect that the cop may have ill intent, you are not legally allowed to escape until he demonstrates full intent to harm you.

Well, yeah, if they abuse authority then they should be punished more so for the extra crime, but just because their cops?

At 7/14/2012 6:33:38 PM, FREEDO wrote:It doesn't make sense to punish police more. They're apart of the same conception that punishment is actually effective.

Royal's logic rarely follows through.

Except for the first point- which doesn't justify more punishment on the police men- her logic is actually pretty sound.

The same could be said of many positions in the community. Merely because they are trusted, they should be punished more severely?

Cops aren't just trusted; they're also authorized with power by the law. If a policeman pulls you over, it is illegal to ignore the order. If a cop flashes a badge and demands that you stop, you must stop. If you suspect that the cop may have ill intent, you are not legally allowed to escape until he demonstrates full intent to harm you.

I'm not sure about in your state, but in Oregon (and I thought it was a federal law, I'll look it up though), if you believe that the officer trying to pull you over is trying to harm you or not really an officer, you have the right to turn on your hazards and continue (while maintaining to follow traffic laws) to pull over to a well lit, public area.

At 7/14/2012 6:33:38 PM, FREEDO wrote:It doesn't make sense to punish police more. They're apart of the same conception that punishment is actually effective.

Royal's logic rarely follows through.

Except for the first point- which doesn't justify more punishment on the police men- her logic is actually pretty sound.

The same could be said of many positions in the community. Merely because they are trusted, they should be punished more severely?

Cops aren't just trusted; they're also authorized with power by the law. If a policeman pulls you over, it is illegal to ignore the order. If a cop flashes a badge and demands that you stop, you must stop. If you suspect that the cop may have ill intent, you are not legally allowed to escape until he demonstrates full intent to harm you.

Well, yeah, if they abuse authority then they should be punished more so for the extra crime, but just because their cops?

Well, if they use their authority as a cop while committing the crime, either by wearing the uniform, flashing a badge, or just asserting that they're a cop, then most definitely.